The Latest: Man taking refuge in Detroit church a fugitive

Jan. 17, 2018

DETROIT (AP) — The Latest on a Detroit church giving sanctuary to a Michigan man who is facing deportation to Albania (all times local):

5:30 p.m.

A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesman says a man taking sanctuary in a Detroit church while facing deportation is currently considered a fugitive.

Spokesman Khaalid Walls says Albanian immigrant 48-year-old Ded Rranxburgaj of Southgate did not report to ICE as instructed in October.

Rranxburgaj is scheduled to be deported Jan. 25, but Detroit's Central United Methodist Church is offering sanctuary to him. The church declared itself a sanctuary church last year.

Walls says ICE does not exempt classes or categories of removable aliens from potential enforcement. He says all of those violating immigration laws may be subject to immigration arrest, detention and removal from the United States.

___

1:14 p.m.

A Detroit church is giving sanctuary to a Michigan man who is facing deportation to Albania.

Central United Methodist Church is offering sanctuary to 48-year-old Ded Rranxburgaj of Southgate, who is scheduled to be deported Jan. 25. The church declared itself a sanctuary church in 2017.

Rranxburgaj came to the U.S. with his wife 17 years ago. Rranxburgaj says he was granted temporary humanitarian status after his wife was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis more than a decade ago. He says he has no criminal record and has been working with immigration officials to gain legal status.

Immigration officials told Rranxburgaj in October that he was going to be deported because of tightening immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump's administration.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesman Khaalid Walls said in an email Wednesday he expects to have information about the case Wednesday.